By Shelton A. Gunaratne

Professor of mass communications emeritus at Minnesota State University Moorhead

I begin this essay with an attempt to document how Buddhism itself experienced the three features of existence—anicca (impermanence), anatta (no self/interdependence) and dukkha(unsatisfactoriness)—over the last 20 centuries from the time of its introduction to China in the 1st century. To do so, I examine Buddhism as a force that became interdependent, interconnected and interactive with Confucianism and Daoism, the two major thought patterns, as well as the minor ones like Mohism and Legalism, prevalent in China.

"The Internet gives us many opportunities to promote Buddhist values, understandings and insights on a global scale" - Ven. PannyavaroColombo, Sri Lanka -- When the Information Superhighway i.e. Internet, was launched in the mid 1990s Buddhist communities worldwide vigorously took up the challenge. With Buddhism becoming one of the fastest growing religions in the West, they converted Buddhist literature into the electronic format with a great deal of enthusiasm.